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State Senator Steven Neville's water tank bill aims to help cities across New Mexico

By Greg Yee gyee@daily-times.com

Updated:
02/12/2013 09:47:41 PM MST

Augusta Liddic/The Daily Times
City of Farmington contracts out for maintenance on water tanks such as the one pictured here at Orchard Avenue.

FARMINGTON — State Sen. Steven P. Neville has a plan he believes will make maintenance of those towering drinking water tanks easier for communities throughout New Mexico.

The Senate passed the bill, which would allow communities to contract water tank maintenance to private companies, on a 39 to 0 vote on Feb. 8.

"In essence, it clears up a logistical problem," said Neville, an Aztec Republican. "Sometimes (tank maintenance) is cost prohibitive."

Senate Bill 93 — titled "City Water Storage Tank Contractors" — allows communities to hire a contractor to do the work over multiple years. This lowers maintenance costs for cities by spreading out payments over the course of the contract, much like making car payments.

Farmington stands among a handful of cities statewide that contract for routine maintenance on water infrastructure, said Bill Standley, Farmington mayor from 1998 to 2010.

He brought the issue to Neville's attention.

"Some cities don't have (a contractor), so they have to go out for a bond, or go through the New Mexico Finance Authority, which is pretty much out of money," Standley said. "This way they can have ongoing maintenance rather than letting (tanks) deteriorate."

Out of the 110 cities in the state, only about 12 contract for their water maintenance, he said.

Although all cities can contract out through the public bid process, the option is often too expensive, he said.